I Finally Stopped Loving My Husband

Vivian, Ethan's first love, sent me 99 sex photos of her and Ethan.

After that, I became a different person.

When he worked overtime late into the night, I no longer left the lights on for him.

When he was hospitalized with stomach pain, I no longer went to take care of him.

All our close friends thought I was just throwing a tantrum. Even Ethan thought so too.

"Serena is an orphan who desperately needs love. How could she possibly leave me?"

Yet another time, when Vivian and I were both kidnapped by Ethan's enemies, he didn't hesitate to save Vivian first. He left me to have my face slashed by the criminal's knife.

I finally gave up completely.

I booked a flight to leave.

Ethan, I don't lack love. I just finally stopped loving you.

Serena POV

Ever since I saw that kissing selfie of Ethan and Vivian in his old phone, I locked myself in my room and cried for a day and a night.

After that, I became a different person.

When he worked late, I no longer brought him desserts.

When I developed new dessert recipes, I no longer brought them for him to taste.

I also stopped texting him every day to ask what time he'd be home, whether he had any missions, or if he'd gotten hurt.

That evening, on my way home from closing the shop, I got hit by an electric scooter while crossing the street.

My arm was badly scraped, and my knee hit the pavement, bleeding profusely.

The driver ran off, and I took a cab to the hospital by myself.

When I got to the hospital, the ER doctor examined my wound and frowned. "Car accident? This is serious. You'll need stitches. Did you come alone?"

I nodded slightly, my face pale.

The doctor looked at me with some sympathy. "I recommend staying in the hospital for observation for two days. Since you can't move around easily and don't have family to take care of you, we can have a nurse arrange a caregiver for you."

"Okay, thank you," I said quietly.

After getting stitched up, a nurse helped me walk to the inpatient ward.

As we passed through the ER lobby, I ran into Ethan.

The man looked anxious as he accompanied his colleague Vivian to see a doctor.

Vivian had a cut several centimeters long on her arm. Apparently, she'd been injured on a mission.

Ethan never liked using his position for special treatment. He usually waited in line like everyone else.

But right now, he was using the priority lane.

"Doctor, please be extra careful. Try not to leave a scar. She's still young, and girls care about their appearance."

The doctor smiled and nodded. "Is this your girlfriend? Don't worry, the wound is shallow. If I stitch it well, there won't be any mark."

Ethan opened his mouth to explain when he caught sight of me.

"Serena?"

My steps froze.

Ethan rushed over in two strides, his eyes sweeping over my bandaged arm and the blood seeping through my pants, his brow furrowing. "It really is you? What are you doing at the hospital?"

Before I could answer, the nurse supporting me spoke up. "The patient was just in a car accident. I'm taking her to her room."

"Minor injury," I said, not wanting to elaborate. "You go ahead and do what you need to do."

Ethan seemed like he wanted to say something.

In the past, when I burned my fingertip on a mixer while making whipped cream at the shop, I'd call him just to get some comfort.

When I closed late and had to walk home in the dark, I'd video call him and chatter away the entire walk.

When a moth flew into the house, I'd scream and hide behind him.

After all, in his mind, I was just a pampered little girl who never grew up.

"Why didn't you tell me you were in a car accident?" he asked with a frown.

Before I could answer, Ethan explained, unusually defensive. "Vivian got injured on a mission. She's my subordinate, so it's my responsibility to bring her here for treatment."

"Yeah, I know," I nodded. "It's your responsibility. Go ahead."

Ethan froze.

He seemed surprised by my reaction.

In the past, I was never like this about Vivian.

I would ask him with red-rimmed eyes if he'd gone to accompany Vivian again, would grumble that Vivian was an adult and didn't need to bother him with everything.

Every time, he'd have to explain. Vivian lost her mother. Vivian's father sacrificed himself taking a bullet meant for him. He owed Vivian's father his life. Taking care of Vivian was perfectly normal.

When he said these things, he often complained that I was immature and petty.

Now I finally stopped making a fuss, stopped asking questions, didn't even have an extra word to say.

"Which room?" he asked quietly. "I'll go with you."

Just as I was about to refuse, Vivian's tearful voice came from the distance. "Ethan, where are you? It hurts so much..."

Hearing this, Ethan instinctively turned and walked toward Vivian, comforting her as he went. "Vivian, don't be scared. I'm here, I'm coming right now."

After two steps, he seemed to remember something and turned back to say to me, "Let me help her get her wound treated first, then I'll come find you."

I watched his retreating figure, feeling somewhat dazed.

When I cut my finger while chopping vegetables, he said it was nothing, just put a Band-Aid on it yourself, no need to bother others with such things.

When my dessert shop was broken into one night, I squatted at the shop entrance trembling, called Ethan, also wanting to hear him say "don't be scared, I'm here."

But he said, "What's the point of crying? You should call the police."

Turns out he wasn't incapable of comforting people.

He just wasn't capable of comforting me.

I tugged at the corner of my mouth and forced back the tears that were about to fall.

Enduring the pain in my knee, I pulled out my phone and listed my dessert shop on a secondhand marketplace for transfer.

The shop, I didn't want it anymore.

The man, I didn't want him anymore either.

Serena POV

That day, Ethan didn't come back to stay with me as he'd said.

The IV drip went until late at night. I pressed the call button myself to have the nurse remove the needle.

I also ordered my own dinner delivery.

It wasn't that I was incapable of being independent.

Quite the opposite. I grew up in an orphanage and never knew what it was like to be protected by someone.

As a child at school, because I was an orphan, I was often excluded by classmates.

I didn't dare make trouble, afraid of causing problems for the orphanage director, so I endured everything by myself.

When I was sixteen, on my way back to the orphanage after school, I was cornered in a narrow alley by several men.

Those men asked me for money with leering smiles.

But where would I have any money?

They got angry and reached out to tear my clothes.

I was so scared I couldn't make a sound, could only shrink into the corner.

Just when I was about to despair, a young police officer passed by the alley entrance and quickly knocked those men to the ground.

The man crouched down, wiped away the tears and snot on my face, and gently comforted me. "Don't be scared. I'm a police officer. The police will protect you."

Before he left, he tore off a piece of paper and stuffed it into my hand with a string of phone numbers written on it.

"If you run into trouble again, call this number."

That man was Ethan.

That was the first time in my life someone had protected me.

The man's image was forever carved into my heart.

I memorized that string of numbers and kept the paper safe.

I always remembered what he said: the police would protect me.

From then on, Ethan became my salvation and my faith.

Over the years, I quietly followed Ethan's whereabouts.

After graduating from college, I deliberately moved to the city where Ethan was stationed and became a pastry chef.

I opened a dessert shop on a street not far from the police station, waiting for an opportunity to openly give him desserts.

That day, I carried desserts I'd made myself, handed him that yellowed piece of paper, and gathered my courage to say, "My name is Serena. Can I pursue you?"

I thought he would refuse, or at least hesitate.

But Ethan looked at me for a moment and said one word: "Okay."

From then on, I became Ethan's girlfriend.

Ethan was busy with work, and I often couldn't find him.

I never complained.

I handled everything at home by myself.

When the pipes burst, I called a repairman. I paid the water, electricity, and gas bills. When lightbulbs burned out, I climbed a ladder to change them myself.

When Ethan worked late, I brought him food in a thermos. I did this for three years.

Ethan wasn't good at being affectionate. He only focused on work, so I came up with explanations for him. Police officers are like that. They carry a lot of responsibility. I just need to take care of him.

Ethan never said sweet words, but I comforted myself that he was cold on the outside but warm on the inside.

Otherwise, why would he have chased away those men for me back then and crouched down to wipe my tears?

When I got sick or injured, he always frowned and said, "Can't you handle such a small thing yourself?"

He didn't remember anniversaries, birthdays, or Valentine's Day.

So I prepared gifts in advance, made dinner, and dragged him over to eat after work.

I thought he would eventually learn how to love someone.

I always thought Ethan loved me, he just didn't know how to love someone.

He had responsibility in his heart, and as his family member, I should support him.

Until three months ago, when Vivian came to the police force, I discovered that wasn't the case at all.

Vivian was the only daughter of Ethan's mentor.

Ethan's mentor had sacrificed himself during a mission to save Ethan.

After graduating from the police academy, Vivian came here and became Ethan's subordinate.

From that day on, Ethan would drive Vivian home after work.

At night, worried she'd get cold, he always brought an extra jacket.

The desserts I put on his office desk all ended up in Vivian's stomach.

Turns out Ethan wasn't incapable of taking care of people.

I felt wronged for the first time.

Why could he be so good to Vivian, yet couldn't spare even a little bit of kindness for me?

But Ethan was just impatient. "Vivian's parents are both gone. Are you really going to begrudge her this? She's young. As my girlfriend, you should help me take care of her."

Both parents gone? Wasn't I the only one without parents?

Vivian was young? I was only two years older than her.

These words, every time I opened my mouth to say them, I swallowed them back.

Until that day, when I was organizing old belongings and found a photo in Ethan's old phone.

The picture showed young Ethan and Vivian.

They had their faces pressed together, smiling happily.

I stared at that photo for a long time.

I finally understood.

All those things he said were just excuses.

Love or no love, the difference was so obvious.

My years of persistence had been nothing but a joke.

Serena POV

My dessert shop had a good location, thoughtful design, and a very low transfer price.

Not long after I posted the listing, someone contacted me.

The buyer was a young couple. The boy said on the phone that opening a dessert shop had been his girlfriend's childhood dream, and he wanted to make it come true for her.

Listening to someone else's happiness made my heart even more bitter.

"Then I'll reduce the price a bit more for you. I hope to complete the paperwork as soon as possible."

The boy was very happy and thanked me repeatedly. "Then I'll take the day off tomorrow to come over. All the paperwork can be completed in seven days at most."

After hanging up, I stared out the window in a daze.

Seven days from now, I'll leave this place.

Leave the person I had faith in for so long.

On the second day of my hospital stay, it was nearly noon when the door to my room finally opened.

Ethan walked in hurriedly. "Are you feeling better?"

"Much better." I nodded slightly and didn't say anything else.

Usually Ethan was a man of few words, and I was the one who talked around him.

Ethan always complained that my personality didn't match my name at all.

Neither of us spoke.

Ethan seemed uncomfortable with this atmosphere, looking somewhat uneasy. "Are you angry? Because I stayed with Vivian instead of you?"

I looked up at him, no anger showing in my eyes.

"Why would you say that?" My tone was gentle. "Vivian is your subordinate and your mentor's daughter. Taking care of her is both your job and your responsibility. Why would I be angry?"

Ethan looked at my face quietly.

He opened his mouth but said nothing.

He suddenly changed the subject. "Have you eaten? I'll go downstairs and get you something."

Before he finished speaking, his phone vibrated in his pocket.

"Ethan, what should I do?" On the other end, Vivian complained while asking for help. "I don't know how to write part of my case report, and it's due tomorrow. If I don't write it well, I'm going to get scolded again..."

Ethan coaxed her gently. "Don't worry. I'll help you write it. It's fine."

After hanging up, he looked at me with difficulty.

I spoke first. "You go ahead. I can manage on my own."

In the end, Ethan said nothing more, just nodded and walked out.

At the door, he stopped again and turned back. "I'll come pick you up tomorrow when you're discharged."

I watched his departing figure without responding.

The next day, as expected, Ethan didn't come.

I didn't wait for him either.

I handled the discharge paperwork myself and called a car to go home.

When I got home, I dragged out suitcases from the storage room and started packing my things.

This apartment belonged to Ethan.

After we became a couple, I moved in.

I just lived with him and took care of him.

When I first moved in, this place was cold and sparse, barely like a home at all.

Ethan ate at the police station and only came home to shower and sleep.

I started adding things to the house bit by bit.

The curtains were changed to a soft beige, the sofa to a warm caramel color. I added many new kitchen utensils to the cabinets and piled several round cushions in the corner of the sofa.

I also bought many couple items. Cups, slippers, key hooks by the door. All in matching pairs.

As more and more things filled the house, Ethan spent increasingly more time at home.

I thought everything was moving in a good direction.

I thought I would live here for many, many more years.

I never expected that after just three short years, I would have to leave.

I was folding clothes from the closet into my suitcase one by one when the door lock suddenly opened.

Ethan pushed the door open and saw me bent over packing my luggage.

Serena POV

Ethan strode forward and grabbed my wrist. "Serena, why are you packing?"

I calmly closed the suitcase lid. "It's the change of seasons. I remembered I had some clothes pressed at the bottom of the case and wanted to take them out to air them."

Ethan stared at me suspiciously.

Seeing that I really didn't continue stuffing things inside, he relaxed slightly.

Ethan coughed and began to explain. "This morning Vivian got an emergency assignment. She has no experience and didn't know how to handle this kind of situation the first time. So I went with her. I didn't pick you up from the hospital. I'm sorry."

I waved my hand. "No need to apologize. She's your subordinate. Helping her is what you should do."

Ethan frowned. "You don't mind?"

I smiled, my tone relaxed. "This is your job. How could I mind your job?"

I was saying exactly what Ethan had always thought.

Ethan paused and tentatively said, "I have tomorrow off. Didn't you want to go to the amusement park? I'll take you."

I was stunned.

I'd mentioned the amusement park to him several times.

I grew up in an orphanage and had never been to an amusement park.

But every time I brought it up, Ethan either said he was busy or that it was a place only kids go to, too childish.

What was with him today?

I looked at him, confused.

Ethan cleared his throat and spoke again. "Vivian also wants to go. Let's have her come with us, then you two can play together."

So that's how it is.

Vivian wanted to go.

The one he really wanted to accompany was Vivian, right?

And I wasn't important.

I smiled. "That's fine."

The next day at the amusement park.

Vivian was like a bird let out of its cage, happily clinging to Ethan's arm.

She wanted to try everything.

The more thrilling and exciting the ride, the more excited she got.

But I only liked gentle rides. The carousel, the Ferris wheel, the slow little train.

Ethan looked at me with conflicted eyes.

I smiled unconcernedly and followed slowly behind. "You two go ahead. I'll rest."

When we reached a famous couple photo spot, Vivian pulled Ethan over to take pictures.

Ethan frowned. "Vivian, no."

Vivian pouted in dissatisfaction. "What's wrong with taking a picture? Are you afraid Serena will get angry? Serena, you're not that petty, are you?"

I acted as if I hadn't heard the provocation in her words at all, smiling carelessly. "Give me your phone. I'll take the picture for you."

Ethan's expression didn't look good.

But Vivian kept begging him, and he eventually smiled at her indulgently. "Just this once."

The two stood in front of the landmark. Vivian hugged Ethan's arm intimately.

The moment I pressed the shutter, Vivian suddenly rested her head on Ethan's shoulder.

Ethan's body stiffened, but he ultimately didn't push her away.

They looked very happy together. Tourists passing by praised them one after another. "This couple has such a good relationship."

Hearing this, Ethan's expression changed.

He walked up to me in a few steps. "Serena, don't listen to their nonsense. Vivian has been playful since she was little. She didn't mean it that way."

I shook my head, completely unbothered. "We're just here to have fun. As long as everyone's happy."

With that, I shoved the phone back into his hand and walked forward by myself.

I didn't even care about him taking couple photos with Vivian anymore.

Because I didn't care anymore.

Ethan caught up with me in a few steps.

He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something.

In the end, he only said, "I remember you wanted that ice cream up ahead. I'll go buy it for you."

With that, he turned and went to stand in line.

Vivian saw all of this from behind.

She stamped her foot in anger and quickly caught up with me.

"Serena," Vivian lowered her voice, but her lips curled with provocation. "You should know that he and I used to be a couple, right? If you don't believe me, he still has an old phone with photos of me and him together."

I just looked at her coldly.

No interrogation, no loss of composure, no surprise.

For some reason, Vivian became annoyed.

"Ethan is mine! My dad sacrificed himself to save him. He promised to take care of me."

"You'd better leave on your own! Otherwise, if he abandons you, don't say I didn't warn you!"

Serena POV

Looking at Vivian's face, I suddenly laughed softly. "Miss Vivian, are you making this scene because Ethan rejected you?"

Vivian turned red with shame and anger, her thoughts exposed.

I ignored her and walked straight to a nearby bench to sit and rest.

Before long, Ethan came back with two ice cream cones.

He sat down beside me and spoke with feigned casualness. "What were you two talking about just now?"

He was too far away to hear our conversation clearly.

But Vivian's angry expression. He should have seen that clearly.

"She said you and she used to be a couple." I looked at him with a faint smile and said slowly, "She also said your old phone has photos of you and her together."

Ethan immediately panicked.

"Don't listen to her nonsense." Ethan frowned, his tone somewhat urgent. "Vivian was young then and didn't understand. She made such a fuss at home that she refused to go to school unless I agreed. I was just humoring her."

I nodded.

Ethan was stunned instead. "Serena, you... aren't you going to ask me anything?"

I smiled faintly. "Ask what? Didn't you already explain? She was young then and didn't understand. You were just trying to get her to go to school. What else is there to ask?"

Ethan suddenly couldn't speak.

"But-"

Before he could finish, Vivian came running over and interrupted him.

On the way back, Vivian walked straight to Ethan's car and familiarly opened the passenger door, about to get in.

Ethan frowned. "Vivian, sit in the back."

Vivian pouted, and her eyes immediately reddened.

Seeing her pitiful appearance, Ethan's heart softened again.

But having already spoken, he couldn't take it back.

I spoke at the right moment. "It's fine. It doesn't matter where anyone sits."

With that, I opened the back door and got in.

After getting in the car, Ethan turned to look at me and explained, "When we go on missions together, Vivian sits in the passenger seat. The view is better, and it's more convenient for communication."

I kept my head down scrolling through my phone and said "Mm" without looking up.

Vivian sat in the passenger seat and immediately became smug.

She reached out and turned on the car stereo. What played was the electronic dance music she usually liked. A style Ethan would never listen to.

I saw Ethan nervously glance at me through the rearview mirror.

Vivian then opened the glove compartment in front of the passenger seat.

It was full of her things.

Lipstick, a small mirror, a comb, wet wipes, and even some chocolate bars.

She picked up a chocolate bar and turned to smile innocently at me. "Serena, he specially bought these for me. I have low blood sugar, so Ethan bought a bunch to keep in the car so I can eat them whenever I'm hungry. You don't mind, do you?"

Ethan cut her off with displeasure. "Vivian!"

I smoothly followed up. "Of course I don't mind. You go on missions together. It's natural for him to take care of you."

Ethan's tone became increasingly irritable. "Serena, you-"

He opened his mouth, then got stuck again.

Vivian's phone rang.

They had an emergency assignment tonight. Her superior specifically requested her for the mission and told her to return to the police station immediately.

"Ethan, turn right at the intersection ahead. Just drop me off at the station!" Vivian said.

Ethan looked troubled.

I was only two intersections away from home.

For such a short distance, I didn't need to call a cab.

But if he stopped the car to let me out directly, I would have to walk home alone.

The distance of two intersections wasn't far, but it would still take some time to walk.

What's more, it was already dark.

Ethan had just opened his mouth to say something when I cut him off first.

"You can stop ahead. It's not far from home. I'll walk back."

Ethan's face darkened.

But Vivian cheerfully urged, "Serena already said she'll walk back herself. Let's hurry back to the station."

Ethan pulled over to the side of the road with a cold expression, glaring at me through the rearview mirror.

I didn't even glance at him. I pushed open the car door, got out, and walked forward without looking back.

Ethan looked very angry as he stepped on the gas and sped away.

Serena POV

When I got home, I went into the bathroom first to take a shower.

I was too tired today. I needed to rest properly.

Suddenly, I heard Ethan's voice.

He was practically shouting my name. "Serena!"

The bathroom door happened to open. I walked out in a bathrobe, my long hair still dripping wet.

Ethan strode forward and grabbed my shoulders. "Are you okay? Are you hurt? Why was your phone off?"

I looked at him, puzzled. "What would be wrong? What could happen to me? My phone died. It's charging in the living room."

Ethan pulled me forcefully into his arms. "As long as you're okay. As long as you're okay."

His face showed panic as he continued, "Why didn't you let me take you home earlier? Don't ever walk alone at night again!"

I smiled and gently reminded him, "Before, when I was scared walking home at night and called you, didn't you say I was being delicate and that I was interfering with your work?"

Ethan suddenly fell silent.

But he asked again, "Then why did you give up the passenger seat to Vivian? Last time she sat in the passenger seat once, you got angry at me."

I interrupted him. "Last time, didn't you say that fighting over the passenger seat was something only immature little girls do?"

I used his own words to block him completely.

Ethan stared intently into my eyes. "No. Serena, something's wrong with you. I wanted you to be understanding, but not like this."

He softened his tone. "Don't lie to me. Are you angry with me? If you have any complaints, say them. Let's communicate properly."

Communicate?

In the past, when I wanted to chat with him more, he said there was nothing to talk about.

I would say ten sentences before he'd deign to reply with an "Mm."

Sometimes I would deliberately ask him what I'd just said, and he couldn't answer a single thing.

He never listened to me seriously.

Now he suddenly remembered he wanted to communicate?

Thinking of this, I shook my head gently. "I'm not angry. You're overthinking it."

Ethan's face was full of doubt.

He looked at me deeply. "Serena, we've been together for three years. We get along well. I think you're very suitable for me. I want to marry you."

He paused and repeated, "So if you think I'm doing something wrong, you can tell me directly. I'll change."

I looked into his eyes, my heart full of bitterness.

He sounded so sincere.

He said he wanted to marry me. He said he would change.

But he didn't say he loved me.

All his tension and anxiety were only because I was good to him, so he wanted me to be understanding, so he was nervous about me leaving.

But his real love was for someone else.

I heard myself say calmly, "Okay."

The next day, Ethan actually took the initiative to suggest taking me to his parents' house for dinner.

His parents were both teachers, and they'd always liked me.

When they saw me, they were somewhat excited and kept telling me to eat more throughout the meal.

After a while, Ethan's father spoke first. "Ethan, you should get married. Serena doesn't have parents, but I really like her. Since you two have a good relationship, get married soon. I really want to become family with her."

Ethan's mother nodded repeatedly. "Yes, I like Serena too. You two should get married soon!"

In the past, they'd also wanted us to get married.

Every time, Ethan refused with excuses like "I'm still young" or "I'm busy with work."

This time, he would probably use the same excuses again, right?

Just as Ethan began to speak, I cut him off.

"We're both still young and busy with work. Let's not rush into marriage this year."

The spoon in Ethan's hand dropped onto the table.

He turned to look at me, panic showing in his eyes.

His father rarely got serious and scolded Ethan, reminding him not to put all his attention on work. He also needed to make time to spend with his girlfriend and family.

Ethan kept nodding and saying okay.

Not long after the meal, he couldn't sit still anymore.

He made up an excuse and pulled me out the door.

His expression was terrible.

He finally couldn't hold back and slammed his palm on the steering wheel.

"Serena, what the hell is wrong with you? Can you please stop making trouble for me?"

Serena POV

I turned my head to look at him. "What's wrong with me?"

Ethan's tone was harsh. "I know you haven't been happy lately. I'm your boyfriend. Why can't you talk to me about it?"

I calmly met his gaze.

"You used to complain that I was too delicate and too dependent on you, so this time I went to the hospital by myself."

"You used to complain that I always made issues about Vivian, so now I don't anymore."

"Every time your parents urged us to get married, you said you were busy with work and to wait. Today I was afraid you'd be put in a difficult position, so I said it for you."

"What else do you want me to do?"

My few sentences left Ethan speechless.

I was clearly changing in all the directions he'd wanted before.

I was clearly getting better.

Ethan irritably rubbed his temples and muttered, "Forget it."

Then, as if throwing a tantrum, he ran several red lights in a row.

I kept my eyes closed the whole time.

I didn't even lift an eyelid at Ethan's childish behavior.

When we got home, neither of us spoke again.

After washing up, we each lay down with our backs to each other.

The next day, Ethan left early for the police station.The buyer of my dessert shop also arrived to complete the final handover procedures.

When I officially handed the keys to the young couple, I smiled at the girl and said, "This shop is yours now. I hope you'll be happy."

When I left the shop, it was already evening.

I walked slowly along the familiar street toward home.

As I turned the corner into a narrow alley, a hand suddenly covered my mouth and nose from behind.

Before I could struggle, everything went black.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself thrown on the concrete floor of an abandoned warehouse.

I was tied up with rope, and my wrists hurt badly from the chafing.

I looked around as much as I could.

There was another person lying beside me.

I knew her well. It was Vivian.

Heavy footsteps came from not far away.

Several fierce-looking men entered.

I immediately closed my eyes, pretending I was still unconscious.

I heard one of them speak. "Boss, which of these two women is the one we're looking for?"

A middle-aged man with a hoarse voice answered, "I don't know! I heard the woman we're looking for is close to Ethan. Both these women were with him, so we brought them both!"

Another man with a sharp voice said anxiously, "But the police cars are almost here. We can only take one with us at most!"

The middle-aged man cursed loudly. "It's all that man's fault! Years ago he shot my leg and crippled me. I have to get revenge on his daughter!"

I understood now.

This was a criminal Vivian's father had arrested years ago, back for revenge.

I was terrified and trembling, but I had to keep pretending to be unconscious.

I cried silently in my heart. I could leave tomorrow. Why did I have to get caught up in this mess?

Police sirens sounded. Someone with a megaphone shouted, ordering the criminals to release the hostages.

Vivian was also awakened by the noise, struggling and whimpering.

The criminals grabbed us both and dragged us to the warehouse entrance.

Outside, police tape had been set up and several police cars were parked there.

Ethan stood at the front, wearing a black tactical vest.

The middle-aged man recognized him at a glance and grinned. "Ethan, long time no see! You were just a kid back then. Now you can go on missions by yourself."

Ethan's expression was grave, but anger pressed beneath his eyes. "Let them go, and I'll let you leave!"

"Leave?" The man threw his head back and laughed. "Since I dared to do this, I never planned to leave alive!"

His laughter stopped abruptly as he narrowed his eyes. "We won't make things too difficult for you. We only have a grudge against your mentor. Of these two women, you can only take one today!"

"Take your girlfriend back. Leave your mentor's daughter behind."

He lifted our chins with the tip of his knife. "Which one is your girlfriend?"

Ethan didn't answer immediately.

He looked at us, his face showing struggle.

I closed my eyes in despair.

I knew Ethan wouldn't choose me.

A suitable girlfriend could be replaced if she died.

But the person he favored. If she died, she'd be gone forever.

But actually, I still held a tiny shred of hope in my heart.

Hope that Ethan would rescue me again like he had when I was young.

Vivian shouted urgently, "Ethan, save me!"

Before she finished speaking, the man slapped her and cursed, "Shut up! Say one more word and I'll kill you!"

Vivian cried out in fear, her eyes full of terror as she looked at Ethan expectantly.

Ethan closed his eyes tightly.

After a long moment, he raised his hand and slowly pointed at Vivian.

"She... is my girlfriend. Let her go."